Combined door pull and latch



.h me 30, 1959 L. c. JoHNsoN 2,892,652 w COMBINED DOOR PULL AND LATCH IN VEN TOR.

Loyd C, @huso/z 'B/YM 1927 (zeg June 30, 1959 L. c. JOHNSON 2,892,552

COMBINED Do'oR PULL AND LATCH Filed Feb. 2, 195e 2 sneet'S-sheet 2 :Il /X 11i Q 113 c o 111 /116 i j J5 im I5/120 INVENTOR. Lqyd GR70/221507Z BY Unite 2,892,652' coMBlNED noon PULrJ LATCH Loyd C. Johnson, vvinneika, ni. Application' February 2, 1956, Serial No. 563,073

s claims. (ci. 2924126) This invention relates to a combined door pull and latch for sliding doors.` For purposes of illustration this invention will be described with reference to its applica- -tion to a sliding glass door for a home, enclosed porch, patio or the like although it is understood that it may be applied generally to all types of sliding doors having a metal, wood or similar rigid frame or member adjacent the door jamb equipped with a strike into which the latch may be inserted.

It is a characteristic of sliding doors that the ways in which they slide are located in very close proximity to a wall, or to the sides of an opening in a wall designed to receive the door in its opened condition. it is necessary therefore that the latch operator and door pull on the Wall side of the door or on both sides in the case of a wall opening, be recessed into the door to avoid the creation of projections which would interfere with its movement to open position. Where the door is relatively thick, the design of a suitable recessed door latch or pull does not present a serious problem. When a door is one of glass or wire screen held in a frame of extruded metal the available thickness for recessing a latch or pull is greatly reduced. A further requirement of a door latch, whether for sliding or swinging doors, if applied to an exterior door, is that it must be burglar proof, that is, all fasteners vby which the latch is secured to the door must be inaccessible from the exterior of .the room.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to providea combined door pull and latch which is particularly well suited for application to thin doors and which produces a minimum' of projections on at least one side of the door.

.It is another object of this invention to provide a combined door pull and latch for thin sliding doors which is extremely simple to manufacture and assemble, the combined pull and latch in fact being comprised ofthree principal parts. l j j A more specic object of this invention is the provision ofha combined door pull and latch for sliding doors which is not handed so that it can be applied to any exterior door regardless of the direction in which the door is designed to slide to closed position.

i An important consideration in connection with sliding doors is the provision of suitable weather stripping, particularly where extruded metal framing is used for the door. Weather stripping for such doors is usually applied to the interior of the' channelled edge of the door which ts over a rib on the door jamb to form a weather sealtherewith. The latch for the door therefore should be such as to` create a minimum interference with the weather stripping at the door jamb, and it is accordingly another object of this' invention to provide a latch for a sliding door which will satisfy this condition.

Amorigthe more general objects of this invention are the provision of' a vdoor latch for a sliding door, the operation of which is effected automatically by the normalvmotions of opening or closing a sliding door; the

j 92,652 Patented June 30, 1959 2 provision of a combined door pull and latch which is attractive and fool proof, which does not present any projections to catch on the clothing of persons passing through the door; and a latch which lends itself readily to the application of locking means where such locking means is required.

These and other objects of this invention may become apparent from the following detailed description when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a typical metal framed glass sliding door to which the combined pull and latch of this invention may be applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the combined pull and latch showing in dotted outline the released position of the latch; Y v n Fig. 3 is a corresponding side elevational view in section ofthe latch of Fig. 2 showing the details of its construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view in section of the pull and latch taken along line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is another fragmentary plan view in section of the latch takenalong line 5--5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view in section of the pull and latch of Fig. 2, the section being taken along line 6-6 thereof; A

Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary side elevational view in section of the door `strike with which the latch of Fig. l cooperates;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a modification of the combined pull and latch of Fig. 2, the modification being designed for a narrower door;` n r Fig. 9 is the obverse View of the pull and latch of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a greatly enlarged end elevational view in section of the modification of Fig. 8 taken along line 10--10 thereof; Y

Fig. l1 is a side elevational view of yet another modication of the pull and 4latch of Fig. 1 and Fig. 12 is an end elevational view in section of the modification shown inFig. ll.

Referring now-to Fig. 1 Ythere is depicted a typical door 10 to which the ypresent invention may be applied. The door is comprised of'a pane of glass 11 suitably mounted in a substantially rectangular frame 12 preferably fabricated from extruded metal forms having va cross-sectional coniiguration hereinafter Ato be described, said frame being supported through suitable rollers (not shown) from an overhead track 13, shown-only schematically, for sliding movement in its own plane away from a door jamb i4 and into side-by-side relationship with a wall 15. It may be assumed that door 10 is an outside door, and hence any latch with which it may be equipped must be of the burglar proof variety. The door, of course, must be equipped with a pull, that is, a device which may be grasped to pull the door to its open or closed positions. The door must likewise be equipped with a latch so-that it will remain closed when slid to the left. In accordance with the present invention the door pull and latch are combined into a single mechanism which is shown generally at 16 in that portion of the frame 10 which is adjacent jamb 14.

The details of construction of the combined door pull and latch are disclosed more fully in Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive. Adverting momentarily to Figs. 4 and 5 it may be observed that frame 12 in which the pull and latch is mounted is comprised of extruded ,aluminum or other similar metal having a generally rectangular cross section 17. Said rectangular section 17 is comprised ofan end Wall 1S, a relatively thinner inner wall 19 Aopposite Wall 1S and opposed inside and outside walls 20 and 21. The

latter walls 20 and 21 are extended to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 beyond end wall 18` to form the sides 22 and 23 of a channel opening on iamb 14. Said sides 20 and 21 arealso extended tothe right as viewed in Fig. 5 at 24 and 2S, then inwardly toward one another at 26 and 27, and then back toward Wall 19 at 28, 29 to form a groove to receive glass pane 11. y

A tight closure with jamb 14 isA provided by a 'substantially rectangular section 30 of extruded aluminum or similar metal (Fig. 4) secured by suitable screws 31 to jamb 14. The dimensions of section 30 are such that it may be received within the channel formed by sides 22, 23 and end wall 18 with a predetermined space therebetween. Said space is then filled with a channel-shaped weather stripping material 32 which is preferably secured to the interior of the aforesaid channel by suitable adhesive so that the weather stripping becomes a part of, and moves with, door frame' 12.

The door pull of this invention is comprised of two identical plates 33 and 34 having round ended vertically disposed recesses 35 and 36, respectively, disposed substantially centrally of each plate, said recesses being of such depth that when the plates are placed back to back as shown in Fig. 4, said plates bear against sides 20 and 21 of the frame 12. Under these conditions, maximum depth of the recess is obtained when the bottom walls 37 and 38 of the recesses 35 and 36 respectively, come in contact with one another. It is not essential, however, that these walls so contact one another, it being the primary intention that all of the available thickness of the door frame 12 be utilized to provide as deep a recess on each side of the door as possible, so that the hand holes thus provided be as effective as possible when the door is operated. Walls 20 and 2l are cut away in the vicinity of the recesses 3S and 36 (Fig. 3) to form openings 39 through which the recessed portions of the plates may extend into the space defined by the rectangular section 17.

Each plate 33, 34 (Fig. 6) is formed with a boss 40 and 41 which is received in a tube 42 extending through rectangular section 17 and preferably secured thereto by welding. brazing or the like. Said bosses constitute pivots by which the plates 33 and 34 may be swung through a limited arc determined by the relative Widths in the plane of the door of the recessed portions of the plates and the rectangular section 17 within which they are received. Said bosses 40 and 41 are provided with suitable openings through which a screw fastener 43 may be inserted and threaded to secure the plates together. It may be noted that boss 41 is provided with a threaded recess or blind hole which does not extend through the boss and hence no access to screw 43 may be had from the exterior of plate 34. Thus, if plate 34 is mounted on the side of the door facing the exterior of the porch. patio or home, the concealed fastener construction renders that portion of the latch tamper proof.

It is contemplated that the portions of the plates 33 and 34 which bear against the sides 20 and 21 of the rectangular section 17, will do so with sutiiciently light contact therewith to permit ready sliding of the plates upon such surfaces. For ideal conditions, however, it is desirable to so proportion the parts that the plates are slightly spaced from sides 20 and 21.

'Ihe lower regions of the plates 33 and 34 are similarly provided with bosses 44 and 45 respectively, said bosses, however, being shorter than corresponding bosses 40 and 41, so that a space 46 remains between the adjacent ends of said bosses 44 and 45. The two bosses 44 and 45 are secured together by a shouldered screw 47 having a threaded portion 48, of less diameter than the shoulder portion 49 thereof, which is received in a blind threaded opening or recess 50 in boss 45. The heads of screws 47 and 43 are recessed in their respective openings to 4 eliminate any projections on the exposed surface of plate 33.

The latch proper is shown in side elevation at 51 in Fig. 3, and is comprised of a plate having a pin 52 extending transversely therethrough and into openings S3 and 54 in the sides 20 and 21 of rectangular section 17. Said openings 53 and S4 may be reinforced by tubes or sleeves S5, 56 secured to said sides 20 and 21 and providing bearings for pin 52.'

Latch 51 further includes a hook 57 extending radially to the left of pin 52 as viewed'in Fig. 3, a shoulder 58 disposed approximately 90 away from hook 57 and an arm 59 of substantially rectangular contour as viewed in Fig. 3 and having a surface 60 adapted to contact the inner surface of wall 19 of the rectangular section 17 to form a stop for the latch. A torsion spring 70 is wrapped around pin 52 with one leg 71 bearing against surface 72 on latch arm 59 and the opposite leg 73 bearingagainst wall 19. For better balance, spring 70 may be doubled so that there is in effect one spring on each side of latch S1 as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. It may be observed from Figs. 5 and 6 that latch 51 is located centrally of pin 52 and extends into the space 46 between the opposed ends of bosses 44 and 4S. This brings the exposed portion of shoulder 49 in space 46 into contact with shoulder 58 on latch S1 and compels movement of the latch with the pin. Thus, if plates 33 and 34 are oscillated about the axis of bosses 40 and 41, screw 47 will be moving through a small arc and this swinging movement will be translated into an oscillatory movement of latch 51 in the opposite direction by contact between shoulder 49 on pin 47 and shoulder 58 on latch 51.

Hook portion 57 of latch 51 is adapted to engage a strike 74 (Fig. 7) disposed in the rectangular section 30 secured to the door jamb 14. Inasmuch as section 30 is made of relatively soft and thin material, it is cut away to form a rectangular opening 78 to receive a strike 74 comprised of a relatively heavy U-shaped stamping having horizontally extending legs 7S and 76 of such length that outer surface 77 of the strike is ush with the outer surface of rectangular section 30. The strike may be secured to the door jamb by heavy screw type fasteners 80 and 81. An opening 82 is formed in the exposed portion of strike 74 through which hook 57 of latch 51 may extend and drop to engage the inner surface 83 of the strike when the latch is in operated or door holding position. It may be observed that Weather stripping 32 is provided with a similar opening 79 in alignment with opening 82 to permit the passage of hook 57 therethrough.

To operate the combined door pull and latch as thus far described, the plate may be grasped from either side by inserting the lingers into recess 35 or 36 as the case may be, and then pulling the plate in the direction in which the door is to be slid. Assuming that the door is closed and is to be opened, the plate is pulled to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. This causes the plate to pivot about bosses 40 and 41 to swing the shouldered portion 49 of the pin 47 against shoulder 58 of latch 51. Continued movement to the right, as viewed in Figs. l and 3, causes latch 51 to be rotated in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 52, which raises the hook portion 57 of the latch out of engagement with inner surface 83 of strike 74 and into opening 82 so that the entire hook is free of the strike 74. Continued pull on the plate thereafter causes the door to slide to the right to the position desired. When the door is to be closed, the plate is grasped again by inserting the fingers into the recesses 35 or 36 as the case may be, and the plate is pulled in the opposite direction which causes the plates and latch S1 to assume the positions that they would take in the latched or operated condition. When the door is brought into such proximity to strike 74 that cam surface 84 on the exterior of hook 51 engages the lower edge of opening 82, further movement of the door toward closing position will promesa cause "thehook'to ride up overthe lower'edgeof opeiing 82 and then, under the action offspring 70,-will 'snap `downward to the `latched position :shown Lina-Fig. 7.

1f desired, suitable locking mechanism :'(not shown) maybe used with latch 51 to prevent'its unauthorized 'operation on the exterior of .the zdor. :Said locking mechanism is of known construction'and lmay be designed to hold latch 51 against rotation inl a'clock'wisefdirection as viewed in Fig. 3.

Where the thickness ofthe door is Snot ygreat 'enough to permit a double recess construction `4for the door pull, the form shown in Figs. 8, 9 `and 110 may be used. In these figures, the door frame 'is shown-'at 85 as supporting a pane of glass 86 and provided with an vopenin`g587 to receive the recessed portion v88 lof plate`89. In this case, the depth of the recessed portion 88 may be substantially equal to the thickness of frame 85 "so that surface 90 of the recessed Vportion issubstantiallycoplanar with the opposite surface 91 o'f the door frame. An'op'ening 92 is provided through frame 8S to receive a sleeve or tube 93 which may be appropriatelybrazed orwelded 'to the frame to form an integral part thereof. Plate 89 -is formed with boss 94 having anfo'pening 95 therein, said boss being vreceived i'n tube 93 for pivotal movement therein.

On the opposite side of frame 85 `is disposed a second plate 96 which is not recessed and which Iis designedto overlie opening 87 in vdoor frame 85. Said p1a'te'96 has a boss 97 extending into tube 93 and provided with a threaded blind opening 98 'to receive a machine screw 106 which `passes through opening 95 lin boss 94 and serves to .secure the two plates together. Instead of a recess, plate 96 has a fin-like projection 99 extending outwardly rfrom the surface thereof-and by which said platemay be grasped and manipulated. Allcorners and edges of projection 99 are smoothlyirounded to prevent tearing of draperies or clothing, or injuring the hand or fingers of the user.

The lower portions of kthe plates 89 and 96 are formed with inwardly directed spaced .bosses 100 and 101, respectively, boss 100 being provided with an opening 102 through which extends the shank 103 of a shouldered machine screw 104, the threaded end 105 of which is received in a similarly threaded blind hole 106 formed in boss 101. The plates 89 and 96, when secured together by the machine screws 104 and 106 are spaced a slight distance from the sides of door frame 85 to permit sliding of the plates relative to the door frame.

The latch shown in Figs. 8 and l0 at 107 may be of a shape identical to that of latch 51 of Fig. 3 and hence has a hook 108 for engagement with a strike similar in construction to strike 74 of Fig. 7. A shoulder 109 on the latch is adapted to extend into the space between bosses 100 and 101 and is engageable by shank 103 of the shouldered machine screw 104. An arm 110 serves as a limit stop for the latch in engaged or operated condition. A leaf spring 111 secured to arm 110 bears against the inner surface of the hollow door frame 85 and constantly urges latch 107 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 for engagement with its strike.

The operation of the combined door pull and latch of Figs. 8 to 10 is identical with that of the combined door pull and latch shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive and hence will not be repeated here. It may be noted, however, that inasmuch as the modification of Figs. 8, 9 and l has a projection thereon (iin 99), that this modification may not be used readily where the door is designed to slide into a recess in a wall, but is better adapted for use in those situations where one side of the door is always exposed, or where the portion of the door containing the latch and pull is not required to be withdrawn into a narrow opening. It may be possible, of course, to provide an opening large enough to receive the tin and door, but since the very thin type of door is *nornrall-y used yfor'porches and other outdoor structures,

the occasion to have the door slide into a wall seldom arises. Obviously, the side of the door pull having the projection 99 is mounted on the side of the door which vis .farthest from the wall along which-the door is designed to slide. Where it is -desired to have some degree of freedomV Yfrom tampering with the combined pull and latch, .the plate having the fin 99 is placed on the outside ofthe enclosure or home because it conceals screws1 04 and 106.

A third modification of the combined pull and latch is shown in Figs. 1l and 1-2. This modicationis adapted v for `use where extreme simplicity and cheapness are desired. In this form, the door frame 137, againvpreferably made of extruded metal and having a hollow cross section, `has an opening 113 which maybe suitably framed on theinterior by cross pieces 114 and 115 disposed above and below the opening, the sides being framed by the vertical members of the section. The latch itself-may be -in the vform of a single-piece casting 116 having a vertically disposed flange 117 constituting the means by which the latch may be operated, and a triangular back `plate 118, which is adapted to abut on the interior surface 119 of the door frame section to constitute alimit stop for the latch in its engaged position.

The latch is comprised of a thickened ear 120 yextending downwardly from the plate 117 substantially at a rightvangle thereto and having a hook 121 formed-on the left-hand side thereof as viewed in Fig. 11 for vengagement with a door strike such as 74 in Fig. 7. Thebottom lof theear 120 has an opening 122 formed therein through which extends the threaded end 123 of a shouldered machine screw 124. The threaded end 123 isV received in a similarly threaded blind hole 125 in a boss'1r26 formed in 'the lower end of a plate 127 disposed on the exterior surface of door frame 137. A boss 128, formed integrally with plate 127, extends into an arcuate shaped 'slot 129 formed in outside wall 130 of door frame 137. Saidboss 128 hasa blind threaded opening 131 therein in which is received aA screw 132 which passes through a suitable opening in triangular back plate 118 and serves to fasten plate 127 to casting 116 for movement therewith. Plate 127 has a lin-like projection 136 extending outwardly therefrom by which the plate can be manipulated.

Both casting 116 and plate 127 are pivotally mounted in tubular bearings 133 and 134 secured by welding, brazing or otherwise to appropriate openings on opposite sides of door frame 137. It may be observed that the shouldered portion of screw 124 constitutes the bearing surface for the door latch on one side of ear 120 and boss 126 constitutes the bearing surface for the latch on the other side. A suitable torsion spring 135 may be used to bias the latch to its engaged position.

The operation of the latch as shown in Figs. l1 and 12 involves the same movement on the part of the opera'- tor as do the latches of Figs. l to 7 and Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive. Thus, either plate 11'/ or the fin-like projection 136 on plate 127 may be grasped by the operator and moved in the direction in which the door is to be moved. Thus, if the door is to be opened, the latch is rotated in a clockwise direction about boss 126 and screw 124 to rotate the hook portion 121 in a similar direction and thus release the latch. Continued pull in the same direction will slide the door toward its open position.

It may be noted that all three forms described above are tamper-proof from the exterior of the room, and that the first two forms shown in Figs. l to 10 inclusive are not handed Thus the plates 33 and 34 may be interchanged as may also the plates 89 and 96 without affecting the operability of the devices either as door pulls or as latch operators. Furthermore, the plates 33 and 34 are identical so that but one design need be stocked for this form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as t States is:

new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United 1. A combination door pull and latch for use on a door having an opening therethrough, said door pull and latch comprising substantially identical plates, each having an elongated cup formed in the central region thereof,

said plates being disposed oneon each side of the door with the cups extending into the opening in the door and with the plates concealing the said opening,.bosses on the plates extending therefrom in the same direction as the cups, said door having a second opening to receive said bosses and in which said bosses are rotatable, said bosses being disposed in the second opening'in back-toback relation, means securing the bosses together, said plates being thereby secured together for oscillating movement, a latch on the door and means on the plates contacting and operating the latch during the 'oscillating movement of the plates.

2. A combination door pull and latch for use on a door having an opening therethrough, said door pull and Ilatch comprising substantially identical plates each having a vertically elongated cup formed in the central region 4thereof, said plates being disposed one on each side of the door with the cups extending into the door opening and with the plates overlying opposite sides of the door,

bosses on the plates above the cups extending toward and abutting one another, said door having a second opening above the first-mentioned opening in which the bosses are received, said bosses bearing against the surface of the door defining said second opening and being supported thereby for oscillating movement therein, means securing the bosses together to hold the plates on the door, means disposed below the cups and extending into the first-mentioned opening for securing the lower regions of the plates together to compel the plates to move as a unit, a latch on the door, and means on the latch extending into the path of movement of the securing means for the lower regions of the plates, Whereby to operate the latch by the oscillating movement of g said last-mentioned securing means.

.3. A' combination as described in claim 2, said means Afor securing the lower regions of the plates together to compel the plates to moveas a unit, comprising additional bosses on the plates extending into the said rst opening toward one another, and a shouldered screw passing through-one ofthe additional bosses and threaded into the'other of the additional bosses lwith the shoulder of the screwfabutting on Ythe end of the said other of the additional bosses.

4. Aacombination as described in claim 2, said means for securing the llower regions of the plates together to compel the plates to move as a unit comprising additional bosses on the plates extending into the said first opening withthe 'inner ends of the additional bosses spaced from one another, and a shouldered screw passing through one of the additional bosses across the space y between said additional bosses and threadedv into the other of the additional bosses with the shoulder of the screw Y abutting on the end of the said other of the additional bosses, and said means on the latch extending into the space between the ends of the bosses and being contacted by the screw.

5. A combination as described in claim 2, said latch including a pivot pin therefor, said door having a third opening therethrough below the first-mentioned opening to receive the pivot pin, said plates extending across all of said openings in the door in all positions of the plates, whereby to conceal and retain the pivot pin for the latch.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

